The Stark County Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Ohio) 1833-1912, 1887-03-10


David A. Boody spoke to "The Day We Cele-
brate." Up rose then Governor Hill to an.
swer to the toast, "The National Democ-
racy." His welcome was tumultuous, vocif-
erous, wild The well bred men before him
seemed suddenly to have gone mad. They
waved their napkins, yelled and cheered
while the governor stood there-a rock
against which the waves broke. At last he
began to speak, but as one or other Of his
thrusts tickled his hearers their cheers broke
out again. The speech in full was as follows:
Mr., PRESIDENT AND GENTLEMEN: Upon
the topmost height of one of the beautiful
mountains of Virginia there is pointed out to
the traveller rude structure, famous as the
home of Thomas Jefferson-the friend Of
Washington-the author Of the Declaration
of Independence and the founder Of the Dem
ocratic party. (Cheers)
1t was here upon the sacred soil of this ma
jestic state known as the "Mother of Presi.
DENTS" amid the free winds, the bright sun
and the pure air Of heaven, that the Sage Of
Monticello-ripe in wisdom and unselfsh in
patriotism-matured the principles which
have ever since been the foundation of our
political faith. (Applause) AS broad as the
magnificent expanse which he surveyed from
his lovely rural retreat, as exalted as the i'm
posing pinnacle from which his vision extend.
ed, and as enduring as the towering mountain
range itself were the sentiments which he so
grandly enunciated. Fitting, indeed, were
such surroundings for the conception of Dem.
ocratic sentiments. Imbued with the true
spirit of Independence and impressed with cor
rect notions Of government, he favored the
largest liberty for the citizen-liberty regu-
lated by law. He inculcated a strict con-
struction of the constitution; be advocated
taxation for the benefit Of all and not for a
favored applause)-he urged universal
education; he asserted the dignity of labor,
the rights of the common people and the SOW
ereignty of the states. (Applause.) He
placed the new born party upon no narrow
or intolerant ground, but upon that COM
prehensive platform of equal rights-free-
dom Of opinion and hberality in all things
which has ever since characterized the atti-
tude and actions of the party upon all the
public questions of the day. (Applause.)
!. There could be no prouder testimonial or
tribute to any man or to the founder Of any
party than the simple inscription which to
this day adorns the slab over his grave in an
obscure rural cemetery in the Old Dominion,
and which declares:
"Here lies buried Thomas jefferson, author
of the Declaration of American Indepen-
dence, of the statute of Virginia for religious
freedom, and father of the University of
Virginia" Qong continued applause)
ORIGIN OF THE DEMOCRATIC PARTY.
To such illustrious leadership do we trace
the honorable origin and organization Of the
Democratic party, and the principles thus
formulated were the first that greeted its
infant ears and have ever since directed its
footsteps and shaped its destiny. Those prin-
ciples safely guided the nation during its
earlier days, and later on there was added to
them the famous Monroe Doctrinen-(ap-
plause)-now the accepted policy of the coun-
try, and, later still, during theunadulterated
Democratic administration of Andrew Jack
SON. Cheers and applause)-the admirable
system of an independent treasury was
adopted and ever since maintained, and sub
sequently the party's demands have included
the support of an honest currency, opposi-
tion to all sumptuary laws, reduction of war
taxes in times Of peace, economy in public
expenditures, liberal pensions for deserving
soldiers and no other r-(applausel--adm
trative and municipal reform and home rule
for cities. Applause.)
Through evil report and good report, in
contest after contest. we have contended un.
der the banner bearing these principles as lts
inscription Since 1860, time after time
under the avalanche of false doctrine in op-
posing foes, our forces have been swept from
their feet and all seemed lost save honor.
Though vanquished, we were not dismayed,
and were always the same "unterrited'
Democracy. Laughter, cheers and applause,
A voice: "Three cheers for David B. Hill,
the exponent of unterrifed Democracy.
Given with wilL)
The traditions of our party, always full OF
interest and instruction, represent the rich
legacy bequeathed to us by the sterling men
whose lives of usefulness were devoted to the
public good, and whose memories will always
be held by us in afPectionate regard What
tender recollections are awakened when wa
-. .Al.